Popular Culture of Popular Culture of the Gilded Agethe Gilded Age

The Rise of Mass CultureThe Rise of Mass Culture

TechnologyTechnology

• As populations grew, cities expanded As populations grew, cities expanded outward and upwardoutward and upward

• Improvements in steel allowed the building Improvements in steel allowed the building of skyscrapers and bridges which linked of skyscrapers and bridges which linked citiescities

• Electric streetcars allowed for mass Electric streetcars allowed for mass transits (subways, “els”, and street transits (subways, “els”, and street trolleys)trolleys)

New InventionsNew Inventions

• The Wright brothers experimented The Wright brothers experimented with airplanes, soon creating with airplanes, soon creating transcontinental mail by 1920’stranscontinental mail by 1920’s

• Photography is made available for Photography is made available for the common citizenthe common citizen

• Movies begin their take-over of Movies begin their take-over of American cultureAmerican culture

Growth of SchoolsGrowth of Schools

• With the growth of technology, new With the growth of technology, new skills were needed to succeed in the skills were needed to succeed in the business worldbusiness world

• School is made mandatory for children School is made mandatory for children between the ages of 8 and 14between the ages of 8 and 14

• High Schools teach managerial, High Schools teach managerial, technical skills, as well as vocational technical skills, as well as vocational

Education for Education for Minorities?Minorities?

• African Americans were kept out of high African Americans were kept out of high schools (less than 1 percent attended)schools (less than 1 percent attended)

• Most immigrants were given free passage Most immigrants were given free passage to the public schools system in order to to the public schools system in order to “Americanize” them“Americanize” them

• Catholics set up own schools to go against Catholics set up own schools to go against Protestant holidays, and give kids a Protestant holidays, and give kids a Catholic educationCatholic education

White vs. Black AmericaWhite vs. Black America

• Southern States began to impose literacy Southern States began to impose literacy tests, poll taxes, etc. to keep African tests, poll taxes, etc. to keep African Americans out Americans out

• Jim Crow laws separated both whites and Jim Crow laws separated both whites and blacks in public and private facilitiesblacks in public and private facilities

• ““Racial Customs,” such as where to sit on a Racial Customs,” such as where to sit on a bus, were created to humiliate and bus, were created to humiliate and subjugate subjugate

Plessy vs. FergusonPlessy vs. Ferguson

• Homer Plessy, 1/8Homer Plessy, 1/8thth black, was arrested black, was arrested for not giving up his seat on a trainfor not giving up his seat on a train

• Case went to the U.S. Supreme CourtCase went to the U.S. Supreme Court

• Supreme Court sided with the Supreme Court sided with the railroads, stating that segregation did railroads, stating that segregation did not violate the 14not violate the 14thth amendment; amendment; “separate but equal”“separate but equal”

Race RelationsRace Relations

• Blacks were the victims of violent Blacks were the victims of violent crimes, such as lynchingcrimes, such as lynching

• Out West Mexicans and Chinese were Out West Mexicans and Chinese were hired to build railroads because they hired to build railroads because they would work for lesswould work for less

• All non-whites faced discrimination, due All non-whites faced discrimination, due to their ability to work for less payto their ability to work for less pay

Change in CultureChange in Culture

• With the advent and improvements in With the advent and improvements in technology, people had more free time technology, people had more free time

• Unions and laws had created a 8 – 10 Unions and laws had created a 8 – 10 hour work dayhour work day

• People had time to spend going to People had time to spend going to parks, playing sports, etc.parks, playing sports, etc.

Going Going

• Improvements in transportation Improvements in transportation allowed people to move and go outallowed people to move and go out

• People enjoyed going to plays, People enjoyed going to plays, watching sports, and anything to get watching sports, and anything to get them out of the housethem out of the house

• Barnum and Bailey’s circus became a Barnum and Bailey’s circus became a huge hit with Gilded Age peoplehuge hit with Gilded Age people

ShoppingShopping

• Department stores and chains began Department stores and chains began form, offering specialized goodsform, offering specialized goods

• Stores and advertising for products Stores and advertising for products began to cater to women tastesbegan to cater to women tastes

• Mail-order catalogs became an easy Mail-order catalogs became an easy way for people, not in the cities, to get way for people, not in the cities, to get productsproducts

BaseballBaseball

• A mix of the British games of Rounders and A mix of the British games of Rounders and CricketCricket

• Sweeps the nation with professional Sweeps the nation with professional leagues forming in 1871 (National) and leagues forming in 1871 (National) and 1906 (American)1906 (American)

• By the 1890’s the game becomes By the 1890’s the game becomes standardized with rules, becomes “national standardized with rules, becomes “national pastime”pastime”